The Echo

Did TC or Kilroy send you here? Got something to say? We have a comment section, too! And. Murph, that goes for you, too.  We have real ANONYMOUS commenting on Blogger.

I had soaring hopes for Sec. Murphy.  Grounded.

Okay, so I get that DOE is having capacity issues - as in a flock of underlings have flown the coop since the Jack hatched Murph.  It happens - moulting.  What clucks, though, is what the cockerel does with the clipped wings still in the hen house.

Looking solely at Delaware's exceptional children - students who require special education - it would be negligent to ignore the fact Murph is about dilute critical mass by asking the State Board of Education to appoint Mary Ann Mieczkowski to be the Acting Associate Secretary of the Teaching and Learning branch.  Mitch is officially the Sec. for the Exceptional Children and Early Learning branch. Good move for Mitch, bad for kids.  Special education cells are among Delaware's lowest scoring DCAS testing cell. Whole schools fail to make AYP due to the state's failure to compel achievement from these students.  For the first time in memory, the Delaware Autism Program failed to make AYP in 2011-12.  When the state's pre-eminent special education AYP-maker fails to hit basic minimal achievement markers, you can bet it's something to crow about.  Over-extending the leader of the department that addresses Exceptional Children is just bad practice. Yep, bad for kids.

Now, factor in Baby Race to the Top, Delaware's second RTTT victory.  We've secured funding to develop more comprehensive intervention for Delaware's youngest learners - the Early Childhood segment.  So, what's Murph do?  He assigns even more duties and responsibilities to a critical secretary.  There's a term for this in the poultry industry - Forced Moulting - and it's not pretty.

Just what did Jack hatch? besides of crock of edushit? A cockatrice who lacks any appreciation for exceptional children? or a chicken running around with his head cut off? 

Murph gets an F in exceptional children.  But, then what would you expect from a leader whose about to import an Louisiana D to lead Delaware's Turnaround Unit? (and if you don't what I'm talking about, you better get your Google On!)

Take the crown off, Murph, you're headed for educational caponization. Do I see a chicken saddle in your future? http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/chickens/Chicken-Saddle-Free-shipping-p764.aspx

Forced moulting, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulting
In some countries, flocks of layer hens are force moulted to reinvigorate egg-laying. This usually involves complete withdrawal of their food (and sometimes water) for 7–14 days or up to 28 days under experimental conditions^[7] which presumably reflect standard farming practice in some countries. This causes a body weight loss of 25 to 35%,^[8] which stimulates the hen to lose her feathers, but also reinvigorates egg-production. Some flocks may be force moulted several times. In 2003, more than 75% of all flocks were moulted in the US.^[9] Other methods of inducing a moult include low-density diets (e.g. grape pomace, cotton seed meal, alfalfa meal)^[10] or dietary manipulation to create an imbalance of a particular nutrient(s). The most important among these include manipulation of minerals including sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), iodine (I) and zinc (Zn), with full or partially reduced dietary intakes.^[11]

Know Your Rights!

FAQS REGARDING FREE TUTORING OR SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (SES)

BASIC INFORMATION
What are supplemental educational services?
Supplemental educational services are extra academic services offered outside the regular school day to help eligible students improve reading and math skills.

Which schools must offer free tutoring services?
Title I School Improvement schools not meeting state target goals for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for three or more years (two consecutive years to enter Title I School Improvement and an additional year) in the same subject (reading/language arts or math) must offer SES.

What is Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)?
Under No Child Left Behind, each state has developed and implemented measurements for determining whether its schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) are making adequate yearly progress (AYP). AYP is an individual state's measure of progress toward the goal of 100 percent of students achieving to state academic standards in at least reading/language arts and math. It sets the minimum level of proficiency that the state, its school districts, and schools must achieve each year on annual tests and related academic indicators. Parents whose children are attending Title I (low-income) schools that do not make AYP over a period of years are given options to transfer their child to another school or obtain free tutoring (supplemental educational services). Further information on Delaware’s system is located on the Supplemental Educational Services web page under the link for Accountability.

Which students are targeted to receive SES Services?
Low Income students from Title I schools designated as not making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for three consecutive years.

Can students at Title I School Improvement schools transfer to another public school and receive free tutoring services?
No. When both options are available, parents may choose the transfer option or free tutoring services, but not both.

How do parents get free tutoring services for their children?
Each year, school districts must notify parents of eligible students that free tutoring services are available, identify state-approved area providers, and describe providers' services. Parents respond, within the timeline outlined in the notice, as to whether they are interested in receiving services for their child and indicate a service provider, if a choice is available.

What if parents of eligible students do not want supplemental educational services for their children?
Parents may waive the right for their child to receive services. In this case, parents may be asked to sign a waiver form stating that they decline the services on behalf of their child.

Want More Information? http://www.doe.k12.de.us/infosuites/staff/si/files/sesfaqs.doc